Automatic releasing tongs



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Oct. 30, 1928.

Patented oa. 3o, i928.

1. STATES.

nieuwe PATENT cruce.

EDGARE. GREVE, v0E `BELLEVUE, rnuivsYLvANA.

AUTOMATIC aELEasiNG fioivefs.v

Application filed June 4. 1925. Serial No. 3,4 84V;

This invention is for a pipe` tong for use particularly in connection With-rotary earth drillingoutfits, and particularly to that type of tongvvhichautomatically releases When a pipe joint is taken upto prevent stripping of threads when the Wrench or tong is being rotated by power driven machinery.

The present application is for an improvement onand is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No.140,16,9, tiled March 1, "1922, for an t automatic releasing tous... t. J

'lheconstruction and Voperation of the invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

t Fig. 1 is a `plan view of the automatic! releasing tong,` showing apart thereof broken aWayto disclose a part ofthe` mechanism;

F ig. 2 is aside elevation thereof; and t Figs. 3 anda are transverse sections on linesI III.III andIV-IV respectively.

` In theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 to l inclusive, 5 designates a main jaw member of a somewhat U-shaped form, having bifurcated end (tin Which is received thetong handle 7.` The tong handleis pivotally.retained in. place by Aa transverse` pin 8 avliichprcfei' ablyha's an entensionbent over to form a hook-'line handle', as shown. On the. inner end of thetong handle .7 is apipe engaging element or pant, preferably `intheform of a roller 10. The bifurcation or recess ofthe jaw at 6k issuch that when the tonghandle 7 swings relatively to the main jaw in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, which is also the direction in which pressure is applied to the handle for screwing up a pipe joint, the inner end of the handle with its roller may be received in such bifurcation or recess Where it is out of pipe engaging position.

In the other end 11 of the main jaw, which is suitably formed and shaped with a transverse extension, is a. longitudinal passage 12. In this passage is a plunger 13 having av pipe gripping element, such as the toothed roller 14 at its outer end. The inner end of the plunger is preferably recessed at 13a to re removing the key and partially rotating the( roller, a newptoothed surface maybe presented in pipe engaging position,` whereby compensation ismade for the Wear inthe roller teeth.

The .plunger preferably has al groove 18 therein into which the end of a limit pin or In operation, the tong is appliedto a.` pipe, such as X, 1n the manner shown. Upon'movH ,ing the li'andler' in the proper'direction, the

pipe X is rotated. Then the pipe oiiers a predetermined yresistance to turning the spring pressed roller-14 willbe depressed against the pressure of springs 15 and 1G, and

the handle 7 Will rotate through a limited arc with respectfto the main jaw. Such movement will shift the roller 10 outof V pipe grip` ping position, and the tong will be released. f

The light spring functions to maintain the member 14 in operative pipe gripping posi tion,\vhile therelease of thetong is eifected against the heavy spring 16. This greatly facilitatesthe application ofthe tong t'oar pipe. As there can orainarily be only enough clearn ance toenable the tong to beslipped onto a Y pipe, it is desirable that eccentric bushings 8" be` provided on t-he tixed pinS so that the Vhandle 7 Will rotate about a pointslightly eccentric to the axis of the handle, ivherelby, With a given swing of the handle, the roller 10 will move further out of pipe engaging position than if the handle was not so pivoted. As only a very slight additional clearance is necessary, the eccentric movement thus obtained need only be very small.

IVhile I have described and shown specific embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that this is merely by way vof ilj lustrating the Vspirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention: Y 1. In a pipe tong, a curved jaw member, a

`handle pivotally secured to the j aw member and enga-geable with a pipe, a spring projected pipe engaging means on the jaw member, said handle being movable in an arc from pipe engaging to pipe releasing position upon forcing the spring projected pipe enga ing means to retracted position.

los"` 2. A self-releasing tong including a curved jaw member of a substantially U-shape, one end of the jaw member having a handle pivotally secured thereto, said handlefhaving a ,pipe engaging portion at. its inner end movable, by swinging the handle with respect` to the jaw, into and out. ot' pipe engaging position, and a spring projected pipe engaging means on the other end ot' the U-shaped jaw.

A self-releasing tong including a substanti-.illy Ufshaped jaw member having a handle pivotally secured to one end thereof, said handle having an inner end with a pipe engaging' means thereon. said jaw member being recessed to receive the pipe-engaging end ol said handle when the handle is swung relatively to the jan' into releasing position, and a spring projected pipe engaging element near the other end of said j aw member.

1l. A self-releasing tong including a substantially U-shaped jaw member having a handle pivotalljT secured to one end thereof, said handle having a pipe engaging element on its inner end, the inside face of the curved jaw member adjacent the end to which the handle is secured being curved to provide a pipe engaging face, the ren'iaining inner surface of the U-shaped jaw being recessed with respect to the curved pipe engaging tace, and a. Spring projected pipe engaging element at the other end of thev U-shaped jaw membe 5. A self-releasing tong including a substantialljv U-shaped jaw member having a transverse extension at one end thereof and having its other end biturcated. a handle pivoted in the bifurcated end and having a pipe engaging element on its inner end, a plunger having a pipe enga ging means in the transverse extension ot' the other end, and a spring For urging the plunger outwardlyy toward the pivoted handle.

(i. A self-releasing tong including a substantially Ushaped jaiv member having a transverse extension at one end thereof and having its other end bifurcated, a handle pivoted in the bifurcated-eml and having a pipe engaging element on its inner end, a plunger having pipe engaging means in the transverse extension of the other end, a spring for urging the plunger out 'ardlv toward the pivoted handle, and means for limiting the movement ol the plunger.

7. A self-releasing tong comprising a curved jaw member, a handle pivotally carried at one end of the jaw member adapted to engage a pipe, a spring projectedpipc engaging element on the other end of the jaw melnber, said handle being movable in an are from jupe-engaging to pipe-releasing positionnlion forcing the swing-projected pipe engaging element to retracted position.

8. A selfreleasing tong including a substantially U-shaped jaw member having a transverse extension at one end thereof and having its other end bifurcatcd. a handle pivoted in the biturcated end and having a pipe engaging element on its inner end, a plunger having a pipe engaging element on its outer end disposed in the transverse extension ol? the other end. a spring tor urging the plunger outwardly toward the. pivoted handle.

9. A self-releasing tong including a substantially U-shapcd jaw member having a handle pivotalljv secured to one end thereof, said handle having an inner end with a pipe engaging means thereon, said jaw member being recessed to receive the pipe-engaging end of said handle when the handle is sivung relatively to the jaw into releasing position, and a. spring projected pipe engaging element n air the other end of said jaw member, said element comprising a toothed roller, and means for adjustabljv holding the roller against rotation.`

ln testimony whereof l ailix my signature.

EDGAR E. GREVE.

lill 

